The Piperaceae (), also known as the pepper family, are a large family of flowering plants. The group contains roughly 3,600 currently accepted species in five genera, the vast majority within Piper and Peperomia. The bell and chili pepper, meanwhile, belong to a different family.
Piperaceae members may be small trees, shrubs, or herbs. The family's distribution is best described as pantropical. The best-known species, Piper nigrum, yields most peppercorns that are used as spices, including black pepper, although its relatives in the family include many other spices.
Description
Peperomia perciliata
Members of pepper family are small trees, shrubs, or perennial or annual herbs. The plants are often rhizomatous and can be terrestrial or epiphytic. The stems can be either simple or branched.
The leaves are simple with entire margins, and are positioned at the base of the plant or along the stem, and can be alternate, opposite, or whorled in arrangement. Stipules are usually present, as are petioles. The leaves are often noticeably aromatic when crushed.
The inflorescences (in the form of spikes) are terminal, opposite the leaves, or located in the axils. The flowers are bisexual, with no perianth, and each subtended by a peltate bract. There are 2–6 stamens, which are hypogynous, with 2-locular anthers. There are usually three or four stigmas attached to a single pistil per flower, which is 1 or 3–4 carpellate. The ovary is 1-locular, and superior.
The fruits are drupelike, with a single seed per fruit. The seeds have a minute embryo, and mealy perisperm.
